After a slow start, Sweden beat the Czechs easily yesterday, 7-1, their 53rd preliminary-round win in a row at the World Juniors.
photo: Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images
Sweden’s now legendary streak of victories in the preliminary round of the World Juniors now stands at 53 and is likely to reach 54 after they play Austria on Monday afternoon. But after that, things get serious. If they want to extend it further, they’ll have to beat two challenging opponents, Russia on Wednesday and the United States on New Year’s Eve.
Yet the results speak for themselves. The last time Sweden lost a preliminary-round game was way back on December 31, 2006, when Jack Johnson scored in overtime to give the U.S. a 3-2 victory. Since then, 53 wins.
Of that 53, though, seven stand out because they required extra time. Three times they scored in OT to keep the streak alive, and four times they won in a penalty-shot shootout. Herewith are the details of those close calls, when one shot could have ended the streak.
December 31, 2010 Buffalo Sweden 6-Canada 5
Patrik Cehlin was the regulation hero, scoring midway through the third period to tie the game. In the shootout, Oscar Lindberg and Anton Lander scored the only goals to give Sweden the win.
Yet the results speak for themselves. The last time Sweden lost a preliminary-round game was way back on December 31, 2006, when Jack Johnson scored in overtime to give the U.S. a 3-2 victory. Since then, 53 wins.
Of that 53, though, seven stand out because they required extra time. Three times they scored in OT to keep the streak alive, and four times they won in a penalty-shot shootout. Herewith are the details of those close calls, when one shot could have ended the streak.
December 31, 2010 Buffalo Sweden 6-Canada 5
Patrik Cehlin was the regulation hero, scoring midway through the third period to tie the game. In the shootout, Oscar Lindberg and Anton Lander scored the only goals to give Sweden the win.
December 28, 2011 Calgary Sweden 4-Switzerland 3
Dean Kukan scored with only 2:04 remaining in the third to tie the game for the Swiss, but in the shootout only four total shots were needed. Sebastian Collberg and Max Friberg scored for the Swedes, and the Swiss missed on their two. Game over. Sweden wins.
December 31, 2011 Calgary Sweden 4-Russia 3
This was the team’s most dramatic victory of the entire streak. Russia blew the game open by taking a 3-0 lead before the game was 14 minutes old, and after a scoreless second Sweden looked lost. Oscar Klefbom scored early in the third, however, and Rickard Rackell made it 3-2 midway through. But in the final minute, with goalie Anton Forsberg on the bench for a sixth attacker, Max Friberg tied the game, only 40 seconds remaining. In the OT, Joakim Nordstrom scored the winner at 2:44.
Dean Kukan scored with only 2:04 remaining in the third to tie the game for the Swiss, but in the shootout only four total shots were needed. Sebastian Collberg and Max Friberg scored for the Swedes, and the Swiss missed on their two. Game over. Sweden wins.
December 31, 2011 Calgary Sweden 4-Russia 3
This was the team’s most dramatic victory of the entire streak. Russia blew the game open by taking a 3-0 lead before the game was 14 minutes old, and after a scoreless second Sweden looked lost. Oscar Klefbom scored early in the third, however, and Rickard Rackell made it 3-2 midway through. But in the final minute, with goalie Anton Forsberg on the bench for a sixth attacker, Max Friberg tied the game, only 40 seconds remaining. In the OT, Joakim Nordstrom scored the winner at 2:44.
December 28, 2012 Ufa Sweden 3-Switzerland 2
The Swiss had leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but Sweden fought back and tied the game early in the third on a goal by Emil Djuse. Nothing happened in the OT, and Victor Rask scored the only goal of the shootout.
December 31, 2017 Buffalo Sweden 4-Russia 3
After five years of perfect preliminary-round play, Sweden ran into a spot of bother at the 2018 U20. The teams went back and forth, swapping late goals in the third to send the game to extra time tied, 3-3. And here was the razor’s edge of defeat. Vitali Abramov scored with Russia’s second shot of the shootout, and after misses both ways the Swedes were down to their final shot. Miss and lose; score and extend the shots contest. Linus Lindstrom scored, and Oskar Steen followed with another goal. When Filip Gustavsson stoned Artur Kayumov, the streak remained alive—barely,
December 29, 2018 Victoria Sweden 5-United States 4
An incredible game ended in dramatic fashion, again Lady Luck smiling on Sweden. This time Sweden built a 4-0 lead by the early minutes of the third period, and not only did victory seem inevitable, a rout was in play. Midway through the third, though, Mikey Anderson got the U.S. on the board, and their momentum snowballed to a remarkable comeback punctuated by TWO goals in the final minute with goalie Karl Keyser on the bench. The Swedes managed to regroup, though, and Adam Boqvist’s goal at 3:51 of the short fourth period gave them a victory they probably didn’t deserve after blowing a 4-0 lead.
The Swiss had leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but Sweden fought back and tied the game early in the third on a goal by Emil Djuse. Nothing happened in the OT, and Victor Rask scored the only goal of the shootout.
December 31, 2017 Buffalo Sweden 4-Russia 3
After five years of perfect preliminary-round play, Sweden ran into a spot of bother at the 2018 U20. The teams went back and forth, swapping late goals in the third to send the game to extra time tied, 3-3. And here was the razor’s edge of defeat. Vitali Abramov scored with Russia’s second shot of the shootout, and after misses both ways the Swedes were down to their final shot. Miss and lose; score and extend the shots contest. Linus Lindstrom scored, and Oskar Steen followed with another goal. When Filip Gustavsson stoned Artur Kayumov, the streak remained alive—barely,
December 29, 2018 Victoria Sweden 5-United States 4
An incredible game ended in dramatic fashion, again Lady Luck smiling on Sweden. This time Sweden built a 4-0 lead by the early minutes of the third period, and not only did victory seem inevitable, a rout was in play. Midway through the third, though, Mikey Anderson got the U.S. on the board, and their momentum snowballed to a remarkable comeback punctuated by TWO goals in the final minute with goalie Karl Keyser on the bench. The Swedes managed to regroup, though, and Adam Boqvist’s goal at 3:51 of the short fourth period gave them a victory they probably didn’t deserve after blowing a 4-0 lead.
December 26, 2019 Trinec Sweden 3-Finland 2
Finland held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but Samuel Fagemo tied the game midway through the final period. In the OT, Sweden got a bit of help when Lassi Thomson took an interference penalty. Alexander Holtz scored on the ensuing power play, and the streak was alive. Again. Still.
Finland held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but Samuel Fagemo tied the game midway through the final period. In the OT, Sweden got a bit of help when Lassi Thomson took an interference penalty. Alexander Holtz scored on the ensuing power play, and the streak was alive. Again. Still.